(1) The persistent cold pattern, first established back in February, remained strong through much of April, resulting in well below normal temperatures for the month. Temperatures began to moderate towards the end of the month, preventing most locations from experiencing record setting cold. Gaylord was the exception, recording their 4th coldest April on record.

(2) Several moisture-laden systems impacted the region, bringing widespread rain and snow. While precipitation totals were above normal across northern Michigan, the focus for the heaviest precipitation was south of the Straits, where several locations recorded one of their top 5 wettest Aprils.

(3) Snowfall was rather frequent, especially during the first half of the month. Much like this past winter, the heaviest snows targeted the traditional snow belt locations, where amounts averaged several inches above normal for the month. Snow totals dropped significantly away from the favored lake zones, where monthly totals came in just below normal.

( ) = Consistent years of record. Record temperature data for Gaylord is a combination of Gaylord Airport (2001-2011) and the cooperative observing station records (1951-2001). Record precipitation data for Traverse City is a combination of Cherry Capital Airport (1930-1993) and the cooperative observing station records (2001-2011).

- only rankings in the top 10 will be entered

* = Record occurred in multiple years/dates; latest year/date shown

**THESE DATA ARE PRELIMINARY AND HAVE NOT UNDERGONE FINAL QUALITY CONTROL BY THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER. THEREFORE, THESE DATA ARE SUBJECT TO REVISION. FINAL AND CERTIFIED CLIMATE DATA CAN BE ACCESSED AT WWW.NCDC.NOAA.GOV.*

For additional climate information and atmospheric and oceanic features that drive the patterns across our area, please visit the following links:

* Data for Traverse City is derived from a composite of observations taken at both Cherry Capital Airport and the cooperative observing station at Munson Medical Center.This data is for informational purposes only and does not meet climatological standards. This data set may include periods with missing data…particularly snowfall data from 1996-2001.

**Data for Gaylord is derived from a composite of observations taken at both Gaylord-Otsego County Airport and the cooperative observing station located near downtown Gaylord.This data is for informational purposes only and does not meet climatological standards.This data set may include periods with missing data and data that has been recorded from different observing points throughout history.